Pernell Akana Cruz, 52, of Keaau died Dec. 29. Born in Wahiawa, Oahu, he was a construction roofer. Viewing 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo. Survived by life partner, Shennel Labrador; parents, Francisco (Sharon) Cruz and Estelle (Papa Tom) Cruz; sons, Kelii (Sharvon) Cruz, George Labrador, Jowaiian Labrador, Kupono Labrador and Joseph Cruz-Labrador; daughters, Kathy Labrador, Alisha (Kalsey) Labrador, Apalogie Cruz-Labrador and Ashlyn (Kaliko) Cruz-Labrador; brothers, Francis (Jody) Camacho, Dominic (Etwina) Cruz and Jason (Terry) Perez; sisters, Chevell (Charles) Keaohu-Hanohano, Leeann (Clarence) Hernandez, Jalen Quisano, Jaira Cruz and Jiana Perez; 10 grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary.
Sharon Mae Fujiwara, 68, of Hilo died Dec. 23 at home. Born in Hilo, she was a retired service supervisor for Bank of Hawaii. Visitation 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 13) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 5 p.m. Casual attire. Survived by son, Sheldon (Leigh Ann) Yokomizo of Hilo; daughter, Cindy (Kevin) Iwata of Hilo; sisters, Jo Ann (Arnold) Inouye of Honolulu and Dorothy (Raymond) Chang of Hilo; stepson, Fred Fujiwara of Hilo; stepdaughter, Tina Fujiwara of Hilo; brother-in-law, Donald Fujiwara of Kailua-Kona; sisters-in-law, Debra Fujiwara and Rachel (Wilfred) Soong of Honolulu; 10 grandchildren; uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Haruno Go, 95, of Keaau died Dec. 6 at Life Care Center of Hilo. Born in Kapoho, she was a homemaker and member of Puna Hongwanji Mission, Buddhist Women’s Association and Niigata Kenjin Kai. Visitation 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 13) at Dodo Mortuary Chapel. Memorial service at 11:30 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Survived by sons, Clarence Go of Hilo and Desmond Go of Honolulu; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Leonora B. Medeiros Kauwe, 60, of Hawaiian Paradise Park died Jan. 3 in Hilo. She was born in Hilo. Celebration of life at a later date. Survived by husband, Henry N. Kauwe of Hawaiian Paradise Park; son, Xavier Kauwe of Hawaiian Paradise Park; mother, Pearl Casbier of Florida; brothers, Jesse B. Medeiros Jr. of Orchidland Estates and Alan T. Medeiros of Vero Beach, Fla.; brothers- and sisters-in-law; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Mitsue “Doris” Namihira, 100, of Hilo died Dec. 7 at Hawaii Care Choices’ (formerly Hospice of Hilo) Pohai Malama Care Center. Born in Mountain View, she was a retiree from the former Food Fair Supermarket, former volunteer instructor for the Kamana Senior Center exercise class, RSVP volunteer and member of Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, Buddhist Women’s Association, Hui Okinawa and Naniakea Street Kumiai. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Alben (Lynn) Namihira of Hilo and Herbert (Diane) Namihira of Kailua, Oahu; brother, Takemitsu (Tomeko) Akamine of Honolulu; sister, Kiyoko “Beatrice” Kaneshiro of Kailua, Oahu; sisters-in-law, Amy Akamine of Kailua, Oahu, and Eiko “Charlotte” Brown of Marina, Calif.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Kazuo Ota, 96, of Keopu died Dec. 17. He was a farmer. Celebration of life 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at Royal Kona Resort. No flowers. Memorial donations to Hospice of Kona. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by sons, Ronald Ota and Isaac (Lorraine) Ota of Honolulu and Gene (Lydia) Ota of Kona; daughter. Lorraine (Wendell) Kawano of Waimea; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary-Kona.
An obituary published Saturday misidentified the gender of the late Sharon Mae Fujiwara. A corrected version appears today. The Tribune-Herald regrets the error and apologizes to her family.